Violin-bow-hair-adjusting device



June 3, 1930. F. KRAKE VIOLIN BOW HAIR ADJUSTING DEVICE Filed March 25, 1929 Inventor Ewfcr /Z'ra/re A tiorney Patented June 3, I930 PATENT OFFICE FOSTER. KRAKE, OF LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY VIOLIN-BOW-HAIR-ADJUSTING DEVICE Application filed March 25, 1929. Serial No. 343,782.

This invention relates to improvements in the construction of violin bows in general and has more specific reference to an 1111- proved adjusting device for the hair of the bow.

' Bows now in use, and as at present constructed include a longitudinally slidable frog to which one. end of the hair is anchored. This frog is connected with the staif or stick 19 by way of a coupling and a feed screw, and

the screw is provided at its outer end with a head fashioned to provide a finger grip.

This head is grasped and turned in one direction for tensioning the hair and turned in the opposite direction for relaxing the hair.

Constant use of'this type of adjusting means produces unusual wear on the threads of. the feed screw and in time the feed screw is distorted and must be replaced. This is one objection to the present day construction.

Secondly, it, is the customary practice of eiiicient performers to loosen or relax the hair after each performance and before putting the bow away. It is of importance,

however, that while performing the hair must never be too tight nor too loose. If it is too tight it causes unusual bouncing and straining of the bow across the strings, making it unwieldly and diflicult to manipulate.

l f too loose, the staff or stick may scrape on the strings and produce an undesirable vibration of the strings, In order to get the hair adjusted at the proper tension, considerable adjustment of the adjusting means is frequently necessary. hen, however, it is necessary, to continually adjust it in order to produce the desired tension, this becomes a nuisance and waste of time.

Bearing in mind these difiiculties, I have evolved and produced a novel adjusting screw and operating means therefor to permit the same tension to be maintained onthe hair at all times, but permits it to be readily re listed in a moment.

'I am aware of the fact that this proposition is not broadly new and that an attempt has been made to provide the adjusting screw with a pivotally mounted finger grip; The

device in mind is granted to one \V. J. Murdock under #558,700, dated April 21, 1896.

The above device, however, includes a double acting cam nose finger grip which cts against a bearing cap rigidly mounted on the staff of the bow. Whereas this permits a quick change from tension to relaxation of the hairs, it is not dependable in that a positive retaining means is produced between the linger grip and the bearing cap.

The present invention and novelty is predicated upon an improved and refined arrangement, wherein the finger gripping means on the outer end of the feed screw is composed of two parts, namely a bearing collar preferably bearing against the adjacent end of the staff and constructed for cooperation with the curved ed e portions of the main finger gripping section, whereby to provide a novel co-acting means which insures a positive maintenance of the two sections when the hair is tensioned.

The specific details for accomplishing this improved result will become more readily apparent from the following description and drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a fragmentary and elevational view of the frog end of the improved bow, showing the finger gripping means in hair tensioning relationship.

Figure 2 is a View similar to Figure 1, showing the pivotally mounted section in a position which. relaxes the hair.

Figure Sis a group perspective view of the principal parts of the invention.

In the drawings, the reference character 4 designates the staff or stick which is of ordinary construction@ The hair is represented by the reference character 5 and this is anchored to the sliding frog 6.

This frog carries a threaded coupling element7which cooperates with the stem portion 8 of the adjusting screw. These details are of ordinary construction. It is to be observed, however, that in accordance with the present invention, the outer end portion of this feed screwis provided with flattened surfaces on diametrically opposite sides. Moreover, the finger grip is composed of two parts, the

main gripping section 11 and a bearing colla r 12. The bearin g collar, as seen in Figure 3 has a flattened opening for cooperation with a flattened side 9 of the feed screw. More over, it has a recess 12 in its inner face for reception of an existing projection on the end of the staff 4. This projection is on practically all'conventional poles. It is to be observed that this collar 12 is not, however, attached to the shaft. It is rotatable with respect thereto. In fact, it is rotated as a unit with the main section 11. The main section is of customary external configuration, it being of polygonal cross section. The flattened end portion 9 of the feed screw 8 extends through and beyond the central opening in the collar 12 and into a recess formed in one-halt portion of the main section ll." This recess is designated by the reference character 13 and there is a pivotal connection as at 1%.

As shown in Figure 1, that surface of the collar 12 which bears against the compleniental end of the main section 11 is formed with a recess which corresponds in shape to the curved end portion 15 of this main section. This provides a positive operating connection between the two parts of the linger grip 10, and hence they are turnable as a unit and are in fixed relationship in order to effect a retaining connection to guard against accidental slippage when the details are in the position seen in Figure 1.

Attention is called to the fact that an appliance made in accordance with the present invention is applicable to the conventional types of bows made and used at the present time. No alterations in the existing details of the bow are required. Hence the device is interchangeable with the existing adjusting and feed screw. Vith this arrangement, the performer may adjust the bow to the exacting tension which his discretion dictates. Having acquired. this, when it is desired to relax the hair, it is only necessary to swing the pivotal section 11 from the position seen in Figure 1 to the position seen in Figure 2. lVhen next using the bow, by readj'usting these parts to the position seen in Figure 1, the main tension previously acquired may be maintained. Moreover, there is little chance for accidental slippage and a disconnection of the parts of the finger grip.

Hence dependable results are assured at all times.

It is thought that by considering the description in connection with the drawings, a clear understanding of, the construction, oporation andfeatures of advantage will be had.

For this reason,a more lengthy description is regarded unnecessary.

I claim:

1. In a: violin bow, a stick, a frog adjustably. mounted on saidstick, hair anchoredto said frog, a coupling member carried by said frog, a rotatable feed screw threadcdly connected with said coupling member and extending through and beyond the inner end of said stick, a pivotally mounted finger grip carried by the projecting end of the screw, a bearing element interposed between said finger grip and stick and turnable as a unit with said. finger grip.

2. In a violin bow, a stick, a frog adjustably mounted on said stick, hair anchored to said frog, a coupling member carried by said frog, a rotatable feed screw threadedly connected with said coupling member and extending through and beyond the inner end of said stick, a. pivotally mounted finger grip carried. by the projecting end of the screw, a bearing element interposed between said .tin-

grip and stick and turnable as a unit with said finger grip, together with co-acting means between the bearing element and adjacent end portion of the linger grip to provide positive retaining means for said finger grip.

3. In a violin bow, a stick, a frog adjustably mounted 011 one end portion of said stick, a hair connected with said frog, a screw threaded coupling element carried by said frog, an adjusting screw having its stem portion threadably connected with said coupling element, a two part finger grip carried by the outer end nor-tion of said adjusting screw, one part being pivotally connected with said screw.

l. In a violin bow, in combination, a stick, a frog adjustably mounted on the stick, hair anchored to said frog, a screw threaded. coupling element carried by said frog, an adjusting screw connected with said coupling element and extending outwardly through and beyond one end of the stick, said one end being provided with a concentric annular projection, a finger grip device associated with the projecting outer end portion of said screw and; including a main pivotally mounted section, and a collar interposed between said section and the adjacent end of the stick said collar having a recess in one surface receiving said concentric annular projection, said collar having rotatable contact with said stick.

5. In a violin bow, in combination, a stick, a frog adjustably mounted. on the stick, hair anchored to said frog, a screw threaded coupling element carried by said frog, an adjusting screw connected with said coupling element and extending outwardly through and beyond one end portion of the stick, said. one end portion being provided with a concentric annular projection, a finger grip device associated with the projecting outer end portion of said screw and including a main pivotally mounted section, and a collar interposed between said section and the adj acent end of the stick, said collar having a recess in one surface receiving said concentric annular projection, said collar being in rotatable contact with said stick, and said collar being keyed to said screw to turn with the screw.

6. As a new product of manufacture, an adjusting device for the frog on a violin bow comprising a screw-threaded stem having its outer end provided With diametrically opposite flattened portions, a tWo part finger grip device comprising a main part pivotally connected with said stem, the inner end of said part having a curved cam surface, and a collar having a flat sided opening through which the flattened portion of said stein projeets, said collar having its outer face formed with a recess for cooperation With the cam surface of said main part.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

FOSTER KR-AKE. 

